Hydrangea plant named ‘Carina’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘Carina’ originated as a found plant in a cultivated area of ‘Orion’. The cultivar ‘Carina’ has a R.H.S. 68 A (red-purple group) bi-color pigmentation pattern on its sepals at maturity, with the pigmentation giving way to non-pigmented margins and is distinguished from other similar cultivars of which the inventor is aware by its stable sepal color pattern, its sturdy growth habit, and small leaves. ‘Carina’ has large showy inflorescences, having both sepalous and non-sepalous florets, with the sepalous florets hiding the non-sepalous florets.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Carina’.

Variety denomination: ‘Carina’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Carina’.

The new cultivar originated as a found plant in a field of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Orion’

The variety ‘Carina’ has pigmented sepals like the parent ‘Orion’, and is typically grown under soil conditions with pH conditions that produce pink pigmentation.

The new variety was first noticed, because of its relatively stronger stems and upright growth habit. Unlike its parent ‘Orion’, the new variety's pigmentation pattern remains stable. The new variety has small leaves, and a stronger, upright growth habit, although for commercial sale, it still needs to be staked. The new variety also has good breaking characteristics. When meristems are pinched, multiple lateral shoots grow out producing multiple inflorescences per plant.

The new cultivar ‘Carina’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor through three generations with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

‘Carina’ is distinguished from other bi-color varieties of Hydrangea of which the inventor is aware by its small leaves, relatively strong stems, exceptional branching characteristics when pinched, and stable pigmentation pattern. The sepals are predominantly pink with narrow (approximately 2 mm), delineated white margins.

TABLE 1 U.S. Plant Pat. U.S. Plant Pat. New Variety No. 9,499 No. 9,510 ‘Carina’ ‘Frau Katsuko’ ‘Frau Machiko’ Relative Compact Compact Compact Height Leaf size 4.625″ long, 5.3″ long, 5.3″ long, 3.6″ 3.25″ wide. 3.3″ wide. wide. Stem Good but still Very good. Does Good, but still strength needs to be staked not need to be needs to be staked for commercial staked. for commercial sale. sale. Pigmentation Narrow (2 mm) Wide (5 mm) Predominately Pattern R.H.S. 155 D white margins, white with blue or (white group) otherwise blue pink pigmentation margins, or red depending radiating from the otherwise on pH of soil middle veins of the R.H.S. 68 A sepals, depending (red-purple) on pH of soil. group. Cruciform appearance. Stability of Very stable Irregular Stable Pigmentation Pattern Relative ease Excellent Good Good of branching when pinched U.S. Plant Pat. No. U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,371 ‘Frau Nobuko’ 10,372 ‘Frau Taiko’ Relative Compact, but growth Compact, but growth Height regulators needed for regulators need for commercial sale commercial sale. Leaf size 4.1″ long, 2.8″ wide 4.7″ long, 4.1″ wide Stem Very good. Does not need Very good. Does not need strength to be staked. to be staked. Pigmentation Wide, irregular (5 mm) Narrow R.H.S. 155 A (white Pattern white margins, otherwise group) border, with R.H.S. blue or pink depending 88 B (violet group) or on pH of soil R.H.S. 82 B (purple-violet group) pigmentation depending on pH of soil. Stability of Irregular, white fades as Stable Pigmentation sepals age. Pattern Relative ease Good Good of branching when pinched

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plants. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in a nursery at Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Carina’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the entire plant. The plant has a compact growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and bi-color, pigmented sepals. The particular plant shown has multiple panicles.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a panicle of the new variety, showing opened, sepalous florets.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a mature floret of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of an upper portion of the stem of the plant.

FIG. 7 is a view of the entire plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant. The cuttings were placed in a 6″ pot with hydrangea soil that would produce pink pigmentation in Hydrangeas that have pigmentation in their sepals. Stems of the plant were staked.

‘Carina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

THE PLANT

-   Origin: Found in a cultivated area of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)     ‘Orion’.     -   -   Botanic classification.—Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)             ‘Carina’. -   Form: Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature     inflorescence that is ready for sale at approximately nine months,     and has been staked, is approximately 18″ high, has 4 to 6     inflorescences after being pinched, and has a diameter of 18″ when     grown in a 6″ pot with appropriate soil amendments. Bottom 1.5 to 4     inches of the stems are woody. -   Growth: Upright growth habit. Inflorescence is large. The plant     branches easily when pinched. -   Stems: Lenticels are present. Stems become woody as they age. The     color of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.     145 A (yellow-green group). Woody stems are R.H.S. 199 D (grey-brown     group). The lenticels are R.H.S. 182 A (greyed-red group) -   Foliage: Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral branches.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and apex. Margins             are serrate.         -   Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the             leaf and are sunken on the leaf surface.         -   Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 137 A             (green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 147 B             (yellow-green group). The upper side of younger leaves can             be a little darker at R.H.S 139 A (green group). The veins             of mature leaves are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group)             whether viewed from the top or the bottom of the leaf.             Leaves are pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching             off the midvein are large and prominent on the underside of             the leaves. Large leaves are 4.625 inches long (not             including the petiole) and 3.25 inches wide. Smaller leaves             are 4 inches long and 2.75 inches wide. Petiole lengths             range from 0.75 to 1 inches.

BUDS

-   Form: Globose with 4 to 5 connate petals (sometimes 3). The     inflorescence contains both sepalous and non-sepalous florets, with     the sepalous florets dominating the inflorescence. Buds have a     diameter of approximately 5 mm at maturity. Very young floret buds     are R.H.S. 145C (yellow-green group). Mature florets are primarily     R.H.S. 68A (red-purple group). -   Aspect: Smooth. -   Arrangement: Borne on branched panicles.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Form: Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 200 or more individual     flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both sepalous florets and non-     sepalous florets borne on same panicle. Flowers do not produce a     fragrance. The peduncle or panicle for the inflorescence is     branched, strong and upright. The uppermost portions of the pedicels     for the individual florets in a mature infloresence are     predominately R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group) at maturity. -   Size of inflorescence: Large. Individual inflorescence size is     dependent on the number of florets. A typical inflorescence can grow     as large as 8″ in diameter, and 4″ high. -   Shape: Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets are flat     and overlapping one another. Sepals are persistent. -   Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

-   -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             inflorescence open first. Sepalous florets are perfect and             complete, although petals, stamens and ovary generally fall             off. Corolla: Generally there are 4 petals that are R.H.S.             68 A (red-purple group).         -   Stamens.—8- 10 stamens. Pollen is R.H.S. 8D (yellow group).             Plant produces abundant pollen. Filament is R.H.S. 69 A             (red-purple group) and approximately 3 mm long. Anther is 1             mm long and is regular and basally attached.         -   Stigma.—Generally, a three-pronged stigma on one pistil per             floret. Stigma is R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group) and             protrudes from the ovary approximately 1 mm.         -   Ovary.—Ovary is R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group) when             young, becoming closer to color of stigma as the floret             matures. Ovary is partially inferior.

-   Sepalous florets:     -   -   General.—Veins dominate on the underside of the sepals.         -   Number of sepals.—4 or 5 sepals per floret, usually 4, and             sometimes 3.         -   Aspect of sepals.—Smooth and glaucescent.         -   Shape of sepals.—Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges often             wavy when the floret is young.         -   Size of sepals.—As the florets mature, the sepals enlarge             and overlap each other. Usually 1 dominant sepal, 2 smaller             but equally-sized sepals, and 1 small sepal. Largest sepal             at maturity is typically 24 mm long and 29 mm wide, the             medium sized sepals are typically 22 mm long by 25 mm wide,             and the smallest sepals are typically 21 mm long and 22 mm             wide.         -   Coloration of sepals.—At maturity the sepals have narrow             (approximately 2 mm) R.H.S. 155 D (white group) margins with             the remainder of the sepals being R.H.S. 68 A (red-purple)             group. Young sepals are R.H.S.145 C (yellow-green group).             Mature sepals are R.H.S. 69 A (red- purple group).

-   Fruit: None. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)plant named ‘Carina’ substantially as herein shown and described. 